Fashion Week Columbus Announces Ukrainian-born and Former Columbus, Ohio Resident Natalia Fedner as Celebrity Headliner for 13th Annual Finale Runway Show

Fashion Week Columbus announces that couture designer, Natalia Fedner, was selected as the Headliner for the Finale Runway Show which will be held on Saturday, October 15 from 6pm to 10pm in downtown Columbus at the Lazarus Building Galleria. She will show designs from her latest collection, including items created with her patented “Stretch Metal,” which is a textile that stretches six ways and molds to the body. It has been worn by a plethora of celebrities including Beyonce, Doja Cat, Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys, Kim Kardashian, Laverne Cox, and many more. Tickets are between $125 to $300 and can be purchased at FashionWeekColumbus.org.

Natalia was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine and immigrated with her parents to Bexley, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, when she was six years old. In addition to showing her collection during the Finale Runway Show, she will also be featured at Philanthropy Meets Fashion, an official Fashion Week Columbus program in partnership with the Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD). The event will be held at CCAD’s Canzani Center on October 13th from 6pm – 9pm. Tickets for this event are free and can be reserved at www.FashionWeekColumbus.org. At the event, Natalia will be interviewed by radio personality Nia Noelle and CCAD Instructor Audrey Nicolas and will raise funds for the Ukrainian Cultural Association of Ohio (UCAO). Natalia feels strongly about using her platform to support Ukraine and has requested Fashion Week Columbus to redirect any funds allocated for her visit to UCAO as a donation.

“I’m excited to participate in Fashion Week Columbus because it brings together two communities I care deeply about and that have had a huge impact on who I am today: Ohioans and Ukrainians,” said Natalia. “This is a full circle moment for me. I get to return to Columbus where I was a refugee and started my career as a fashion designer and use my platform to raise funds for the UCAO. They are doing incredible work to provide aid in whatever form is needed during this unjustified war in Ukraine.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Fashion Week Columbus and Natalia Fedner to raise funds for Ukrainians who are in desperate need of humanitarian care—everything from individual first aid kits to warm clothes for volunteer defense units,” said Natalia Lebedin, President of UCAO. “Natalia’s commitment to this effort is inspiring and Fashion Week Columbus has been a fantastic partner.”

Natalia’s connection to Columbus remains strong today as her parents still live in Bexley. Thinking back, she credits her 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Young, for teaching her how to create Fimo jewelry and says, “I still think it’s one of the coolest things around.”

“Columbus really helped shape me as a young designer. I am so grateful that I was given full scholarships to attend Saturday morning art classes each year at CCAD from third grade until I graduated from high school. It helped to shape my interest in fashion design,” said Natalia. “My Bexley High School senior project was my first ever fashion show where I created garments showcasing knitting, weaving, and jewelry techniques on models, who happened to be my classmates.”

After high school, Natalia moved to New York and later to Paris to attend Parsons School of Design to study the techniques of haute couture. She then worked for Calvin Klein Collection, Donna Karan Collection, and Marc Jacobs before starting her line and eventually landing a spot on Project Runway.

“We are thrilled to bring Natalia back to Columbus and showcase her beautiful unique designs,” said Thomas McClure, Executive Director and Founder of Columbus Fashion Council and Fashion Week Columbus. “Her concept to raise funds for Ukraine is in direct alignment with the work of Fashion Week Columbus and makes her collaboration with us even more rewarding.”

Fashion Week Columbus runs October 9 through October 15, 2022. For more information including a full list of events and how to purchase tickets or become a sponsor, please visit https://fashionweekcolumbus.org/.

More information on Natalia Fedner, please visit https://nataliafedner.com.

About Fashion Week Columbus

Fashion Week Columbus is the flagship program of the Columbus Fashion Council, dedicated to showcasing emerging fashion designers through a full week of shows and programs. Since 2010, FWC has provided a platform for 220+ designers and 2,000+ models, awarded over $65,000 in scholarships, and produced more than 200 fashion shows. www.FashionWeekColumbus.com

About Columbus Fashion Council

The Columbus Fashion Council is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide scholarships to fashion design students and a platform for local designers. Our vision is to expand the fashion economy in Central Ohio through creative programming, community partnerships, and industry growth initiatives including Fashion Week Columbus, The Fashion Industry Conference, Columbus Fashion Awards, The Fashion Presentations, Common Thread Shops on Third, and more. www.ColumbusFashionCouncil.org